Improvement in life-boats



" To all whom it 'ma/y concern ing.

7 taria-d sans gaat cmi-ir.

FENELON VIE', Vor HAVRE, FRANCE.

` Letmsypamlvasasio,amarla/4,1869.

mnovnmnm' IN LIFE-BOATS.

Be it `known that I, FNLON VI, of E/Iavre, in the Empire of France, have invented a new and im- -proved Life-Boat; and I do `hereby declare the following to`be afull, clear, and exact `description thereof',

which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyv ing drawing, forming part` of this specification, in

V which drawingi Figure 1` represents a sectional side elevation of y this invention when extended.

Figure 2 is a plan` or top view thereof. Figure 3 is a transverse section thereof.

Figure 4 is an end yiew of the same when folded up. Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

This invention consists-inthe arrangement of ribs.

or frames, the ends of which are bifurcated, or provided with large gore-shaped openings, in combination with a covering and lining of India-rubber cloth, or some other flexible and water-tight material, and with 1ongitudinal rods or braces, in such a manner that when tiiecovering issecured to the outside and the lining to the inside of said bifurcated ribs or frames, a series of 'air-spaces are formed, communicating with each other through the gore-shaped openings'in the frames, and by securing the longitudinal braces inposition, a boat is obtainedv of considerable buoyancy, which, whensaid braces are removed, canjbe folded up in a comparatively vsmall compass. The braces are secured between flanges, attached at the proper places to the covering of the boat; and the ends of `said covering., are so formed that the same, whenextended and fast-v enedto the longitudinal braces, will form two additional air-chambers at both' ends of the boat, whereby the buoyancy andthe safety of `said, boat are materially "increased `A representsmy lifeboa which is constructedof a series of ribs ,or frames, and a. covering, C, and lining, "D, of India-rubber cloth, oi; some other watertight. and iiexible material. 1

The ribsBare made, by preference, of sheet-metal, and they are provided with large gore-shaped openings, a, near both ends, as Yclearly shown in iig. 3 of the draw- The covering C is stretched over the outside edges nects with the covering, so that said lining and covering practically form onecontinuous sheet of Waterproofmaterial, the two beingfurther connected by i double-flanged pieces b, as shown in figjl, which also serve to hold the lining and covering in the proper position in relation to the ribs. i.

rof the vessel, as shown.

When the covering and lining are properly adjusted on the ribs, aspreviously described, a vessel or trough is formed, which can be extended to the'position shown in figs. 1 and 2, or folded up to the position shown in iig. 4; and when it is extended, it isheld in position by longitudinal braces `E F, two o f which are fastened` to the edges of the gunwales and one to the bottom These braces are held in position by flanges @which .are secured tothe covering, and provided with eylets to receive cords, by means of which said braces can be tied down, so that they are notpermitted to shift, and that they will retain the vessel firmly in its extended position.

The ends of the vessel or trough-v are closed by airchambers G, which form integral parts of the covering and lining, and Vwhich' are held in their extended position by ,hinged braces, d, as shown in iig. l..

When the boat is folded up, these braces turn down tothe sidesof the last ribs, and when the boat isV extended,.the tops of the air-chambers are also secured to the longitudinal` braces E, and thereby retained in the required position.

It will4 be seen that when my boat is extended, aV series` of air-chambers is formed between the ribs, and these airchambers communicate with each other through the gore-shaped openingsa, and the buoyancy and safety of the boat are still further increased by the air-chamber G at the ends. f

`When the boat is not used, it can be folded up and storedI away in a comparatively small space.

Having thus described my invention,

What I claim as'new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, isi l 1. The ribs B, with` gore-shaped openings a, in combination with the covering O and lining D, and with `the. longitudinalv braces E F, substantially as herein shown-and described.

2. .The doubleilanged pieces b, in combination with 3. The flanges c, in` combination with the longitudinal braces E E, covering O, and lining '-D, substan-f tially as andforthe purpose described.

4. The air-chambers G, in combination with the longitudinalV braces E,- covering C, liningvD, and ribs B, spbstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

This specification signed by me, this 18th day of September, 1868.

Witnesses:

W. HAUFF, v ERNEST E. KAs'rENHUBnR. 

